GALLERY: Nearly 200 runners complete the tough Dartmoor Discovery ultra marathon

RUNNERS from around the country took part in the Dartmoor Discovery ultra marathon on Saturday.

The 32-mile event, which starts and finishes at Princetown, is the UK’s longest single lap road ultra marathon and takes competitors up and down some of the toughest hills Dartmoor has to offer.

The undulating course sees athletes leave Princetown and head through Dartmeet, Poundsgate, Newbridge, Ashburton, Buckland-in-the-Moor, Widecombe-in-the-Moor and Postbridge before heading back to the start.

The event is one of the most popular ultra runs in the country and there was a competitive race this year, with the top three all running much faster than the winning time 12 months ago.

Bideford’s Josh Benford took victory in three hours, 31 minutes and 19 seconds. That was less than two minutes off the long-standing course record held by fellow Bideford runner John Ward.

Tavistock’s Joe Beaton, who became the youngest winning of the race last year, had to settle for second place this time around, but his time was much faster than in 2023.

The 21-year-old clocked 3:37.17 to hold off Long Eaton’s Mark Boot, who took third place in 3:38.27.

Torbay Tri Club’s Naomi Flanagan finished fourth overall and first woman in 4:00.29, which was just 37 seconds off the female course record.

Tavistock Run Project’s Alex Peyton-Jones was fifth overall, fourth man and first M40.

Erme Valley Harriers’ Alison Thorn was second woman home in 4:32.44 and first F50, with Looe Pioneers’ Jo Robinson third in 4:37.46 and first F45.

Some 198 runners finished the ultra run, which was nearly 50 more than last year.

Full results can be found HERE.

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